ALBANY – A state-funded scholarship for middle class students was supposed to help with college costs and reduce the “brain drain” of young adults leaving for other states.
But after six years, less than 10 percent of SUNY students are taking advantage of the Excelsior Scholarship. They must still pay thousands of dollars in other costs if they accept the award, as well as promising to live in the state for years after graduating – all in exchange for an average of $4,200 a year.
At University at Albany, an Excelsior Scholarship student will still pay $19,337 a year if they live on campus. If they live at home, a freshman must still pay $3,543 in fees – it goes down by $255 after the first year – plus the cost of books and other materials, estimated at $1,000, an analysis by the Times Union found.
The cost comes as a surprise to many, especially if they assume, as many do, that their other scholarships or grants could be used for room and board.
Part of the allure of the program when announced was that it would provide relief to the middle class, as the scholarship is for students whose household makes up to $125,000. But students who take Excelsior essentially agree to give up all other financial aid in exchange for getting their tuition bill covered by the state. They must also stay in the state after graduation for as many years as the student received the scholarship, or it turns into a loan.
Tuition at four-year SUNY schools is $7,070. Before paying that, Excelsior first uses all other financial aid given to the student, including the federal Pell grant and any private scholarships that can be applied to tuition. Then the state pays the remaining tuition bill.
“We do not say free college. We call it free tuition,” said Higher Education Services Corp. Executive Vice President Elsa Magee. “We’re just filling the gap.”
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